Why the - and the + for the odds / payout?

[mkeshnatter]

I am new to betting. I remember as a kid my folks would go to OTB once in a blue moon for horse race betting.

A horse might have 3 - 1 odds. Bet $1, get $3 back. Seems easy.

Now, at least with football? I'll see +200. That means that if you bet $100, you get $200, right?
But then right below that for the other team, it might be -170. That means that to win $100, you have to bet $170?

Why the reverse logic right next to each other? Why don't they show +200 and then I think that -170 becomes +58? Both get read the same way - bet $100 get $x back.

 

[Wagerallsports]

Now, at least with football? I'll see +200. That means that if you bet $100, you get $200, right?
But then right below that for the other team, it might be -170. That means that to win $100, you have to bet $170?

You got it

Very easy to understand after a little while

 

[mkeshnatter]

Yes, easy to understand... but why the different ways for 1 team vs. the other?

You don't see prices on amazon or most any other website - US dollars for one item and on the same page, right after that, see an accessory price in Lira. It's easy to convert 1 to the other, but why not list both in the same type of currency?

 

[BobbyFK]

Yes, easy to understand... but why the different ways for 1 team vs. the other?

You don't see prices on amazon or most any other website - US dollars for one item and on the same page, right after that, see an accessory price in Lira. It's easy to convert 1 to the other, but why not list both in the same type of currency?

Because one team is the favorite to win the game. You will see them with a -. The underdog will be displayed with a + icon